Beijing, Washington pledge constructive partnership

China and the United States highlighted their resolve to forge a stronger cooperative partnership on Thursday, a development observers said helps reduce the risk of instability in the Asia-Pacific region.

But while increasing exchanges in various fields, including the military, would boost mutual trust, more efforts are needed in sensitive areas such as territorial issues in the East and South China seas if Sino-US ties are to reach their full potential, observers said.

President Xi Jinping said he and President Barack Obama are determined to ensure the healthy and stable growth of China-US ties and ensure that they stay "on a correct track".